Sometimes when we are searching and visiting areas things aren’t as we hope. Our Saturday of surprises was beginning to look that way. Our Rice Palace breakfast was fantastic and we figured the entire day would be that way. Not necessarily so, until…Continue reading →

Saturday weather was not getting any better as we headed north to Elton, LA. It was still cold, windy, and dreary – not the type of day to head out to a festival, but we were on our way.Continue reading →

Saturdays usually mean shopping at a farmers market and breakfast out. This has become a tradition of ours no matter where we may be located. This Saturday we were in Breaux Bridge, LA and knew the Lafayette markets well, having shopped them many times. There are three farmers markets in Lafayette which is interesting for a city of its size and the markets are close together. Continue reading →

“I hear the train a comin’, it’s rollin’ round the bend…”, we could image the chugging of the engine as it slowly moved along the tracks…the sound of the horn as the train approached an intersection… Continue reading →

Saturday morning and we are off to a farmers market in Hammond, LA. The market is in the historic area of town alongside the railroad tracks, which are still used. Luckily for us no trains passed while we were shopping. The market offered the usual items – vegetables, eggs, honey, jams, and crafts. What set this market apart was their frequent shopper card. These cards are popular with coffeehouses and eateries but we have never seen one at a farmers market. Continue reading →

The architecture is Spanish in white stucco, arches, large entrance doors, high ceilings, stone floors, and stories held within these walls. You know there is a presence here but the stately old buildings, while in need of attention, are welcoming. Although these buildings have many stories from the past to tell, they are now housing new stories and a place of courage where the past forms the future. This is Café Hope. Continue reading →

Google had assured us that we could find fresh local bread at Southern Sweet Potato Pie Company. We were not sure we really believed Google but the name was inviting and we were interested. The non-descript building set back off Lapalco Boulevard was nothing special yet walking in all our senses were on alert, the cases were full of sweet pies, cakes and cookies of all shapes, sizes and colors. But no bread could be found. Continue reading →

To walk the history of our Acadian ancestors from Acadie to south Louisiana at the Acadian Museum gives us a better appreciation of who we are as a people and a better understanding of the trials and hardships endured to make us who we are today. Located in St Martinville, everything at the museum is presented in both English and French. French is the second language of south Louisiana and for some Cajuns it is their first language. Just as the English tried to destroy families during the exile from Acadie, schools from the 1920s to the 1960s tried to stop the use of Cajun French. But Cajuns are a strong and proud people and our heritage is important so just as the English failed so the schools failed and the Cajun French language survived and is strong today. We Cajuns are proud of our past and of our language. Continue reading →